Daniel Krause, a former corporate communications executive who is also a candidate for ordination, will take the helm of United Methodist Communications on June 8.
"It is an honor to join United Methodist Communications and to help share the story of God's work through The United Methodist Church in the world,” Krause said in a statement. “I look forward to working with the distinguished team in place as we face opportunities to keep communication timely and relevant for a global church."
Krause brings more than 11 years of management experience at Frontier Airlines, where he was most recently vice president of marketing and customer experience.
In his new role, Krause will oversee the agency charged with meeting the messaging, public relations and marketing needs of the 12.8 million-member global denomination. He also will be the publisher of United Methodist News Service.
Krause will succeed the Rev. Larry Hollon, whose tenure ended April 1 after 15 years as the agency’s top executive.
“He has many of the things we were looking for,” Chicago Area Bishop Sally Dyck, president of the denomination’s Commission on Communication, said April 6 in announcing Krause’s selection. That includes experience in finance and team leadership, as well as marketing and branding. “We’re excited that he also is on track to be ordained.”
She said the commission elected Krause from a field of more than 500 candidates.
Since 2013, Krause has attended United Methodist Iliff School of Theology in Denver, where he has completed more than two-thirds of the credits required for a Master of Divinity degree. He is currently an elder candidate in the Rocky Mountain Conference.
He also has spent the past two years at Denver’s Trinity United Methodist Church as a pastoral intern supporting evangelism and new-member outreach.
Krause said he felt a call to go to seminary after seeking a better balance among faith, family and career.
“Part of my calling is definitely the sharing of God’s work and connecting of the church to the larger world,” he said.
His new role at United Methodist Communications is a “great opportunity to merge where I’ve been and where I am looking forward to go,” he said.
He said he plans to look at how the agency can help the entire denomination build a brand and use a variety of communications platforms to share the church’s story.
Krause is the father of three children, ages 5, 3 and 2. His wife works for the professional services firm Deloitte Touche, and will be transferring to Nashville, Tenn.
He is a graduate of United Methodist-related Boston University and earned both a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Arts in Education Policy from Stanford University.
“As an observer for a long time using UMCom’s tools in communications, I can say that I think we are already a leader in denominational communications,” he told agency staff April 6. “And I look forward in continuing to work alongside you.”
Sherri Thiel, the agency’s chief operating officer, will serve as interim general secretary until Krause’s arrival.
News media contact: Heather Hahn at (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
